Biographies from the 2008 Induction Ceremony Program.
Landscape architect Richard C. (Dick) Bell is driven by a single, professional mission: “to leave a little beauty behind wherever I go.” That conviction has earned him a national reputation for excellence, and has provided Raleigh with some of its most striking and well known landmarks, including the N.C. State University “Brickyard,” the serpentine wall at St. Mary’s School, Pullen Park, and the Meredith College lake and amphitheater. He also has constructed an 11-acre Water Garden complex on Glenwood Avenue, one of Raleigh’s first mixed-use developments and an early example of buildings coexisting in harmony with the surrounding terrain and natural resources. Born and raised in Manteo, Bell attended NCSU, where he studied landscape architecture and assisted with the master plan for the university. He was a member of the Raleigh Planning Commission in the late 1980s and early ’90s. He and his wife, Mary Jo, have lived and worked here for 50 years.
Whether spearheading efforts to turn N.C. State University into a world-class research institution, calming racial tensions and civil unrest in the ’60s, or simply engaging students in conversation, Dr. John Tyler Caldwell was a powerful presence during his 16 years as chancellor of NCSU. Under his tenure, the student and faculty populations nearly doubled, and the curriculum expanded with the establishment of the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics. The university also began offering degree programs in the humanities and social sciences. He worked to make higher education more accessible to the community and encouraged students to volunteer in the city and county. Born in rural Mississippi in 1911, Caldwell received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State College, master’s degree from Duke University, and doctorate degree from Princeton. After tenures as president of Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo) and the University of Arkansas, Caldwell was tapped as chancellor at N.C. State in 1959, where he remained until his retirement in 1975. Caldwell died on October 13, 1995, leaving a legacy of compassion, inspiration, and service.
As the first African-American elected to the Raleigh Board of Education and the first African-American woman elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners, Elizabeth Bias Cofield has been a trailblazer in public service, education, and local politics. Born in Raleigh and reared in Elizabeth City, Cofield spent much of her childhood on the campus of Elizabeth City State University, where her father was the university president. She earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, in New York. Cofield inspired and guided students for 40 years as a Professor of Education and Personnel Administrator at Shaw University in Raleigh. Affectionately known as “Ma Cofield,” she challenged students to think critically, to lead rather than follow, and to strive for personal and academic success. She also was active in the civil rights movement. Cofield’s lifelong dedication to public service has inspired women, African-Americans, elected officials, and citizens from all corners of the country to reach for great heights and work without reservation to make their community a better place to live for all.
From art to science to history, there’s hardly a museum in Raleigh that has not benefited from the leadership skills, spirit, and generosity of Frank A. Daniels, Jr., and Julia J. Daniels. Married for more than 50 years, the Daniels have worked tirelessly for not only the N.C. State Museums of Art, History, and Natural Sciences but almost every aspect of community life, including health care, business, and education.
Julia Jones Daniels was born in New Bern and attended Broughton High School. She graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, with a degree in elementary education. She is past board chair of the North Carolina Museum of Art and was instrumental in the museum’s expansion, enlisting both legislative and community support. She has worked on countless committees for both the Museum of Art and the Museum of History and served as president of the Museum of History Associates. A long-time member of the Junior League of Raleigh, Julia served as president in the late ’60s. In addition to the arts, both Daniels are strong backers of a vibrant downtown area and are interested in historic preservation. Julia is the current chair of the National Trust Council of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A lifelong resident of Raleigh and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Frank is a member of the Daniels family, which owned the News and Observer for most of its history. He was president and publisher of the News and Observer Publishing Company for some 25 years prior to his retirement in 1996, and has served on countless community and national boards, including his current post as a member of the UNC Board of Governors.
As philanthropists and restaurateurs, Alice and Thad Eure, Jr., generously gave of their time and resources to serve the Raleigh community. Owners of the nationally acclaimed Angus Barn Restaurant, the Eures established the Foundation of Hope, an organization dedicated to funding breakthroughs in the treatment of mental illness. Founded in response to a family member coping with mental illness, the Foundation has donated more than $2 million to fund local research projects and treatment programs.
A Kentucky native and alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Alice wore many hats: wife, mother, businesswoman, and civic leader. She not only reared three children and helped found the Angus Barn and other local restaurants with her husband Thad, she also was a gifted decorator, who co-owned a design firm for 10 years. She served on numerous community boards. Alice died in 1997 after a six-month battle with cancer.
A trailblazing entrepreneur, Thad was nationally known for his skills in the restaurant business. Along with his wife Alice and other business partners, Thad created some of Raleigh’s best-known restaurants: the Angus Barn, the Darryl’s chain, 42nd Street Oyster Bar, Fat Daddy’s, and Border Café. The restaurants gained a national reputation for dedication to customers and employees. Thad served as president of both the North Carolina and National Restaurant Association (NRA) and was twice named Restaurateur of the Year for North Carolina. The NRA’s highest honor, the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award, was established in 1987 and is presented annually to recognize extraordinary achievement in the industry. Thad died of cancer in 1988 at the age of 56.
Barbara and Jim Goodmon have spent much of their nearly 40 years of married life serving the Raleigh community, from humanitarian work for the needy to support for the arts, business, and education. Barbara is President and Executive Director of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation, which supports the arts and non-profit groups dedicated to social progress. Born in Mississippi and reared in Tennessee, Barbara graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Memphis in 1965, and has also earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Meredith College followed by a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from N.C. State University. With primary interests in the field of human service, Barbara has served as chairman of the Salvation Army and Wake County Human Services. She is one of the co-founders of The Healing Place of Wake County, a residential facility for homeless people with alcohol and drug addiction.
President and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC), Jim Goodmon grew up in Raleigh and graduated from Broughton High School. He attended Duke University but left prior to graduating to join the Navy. In 1968, Jim joined CBC, a company founded by his grandfather, A.J. Fletcher. CBC holdings include WRAL-TV and WRAL-FM, the North Carolina News Network, and the Durham Bulls minor league baseball club. Jim became CBC president in 1975 and CEO in 1979. His visionary leadership has earned Capitol Broadcasting national recognition in the broadcast industry. WRAL was the first commercial television station to transmit in high definition. He is chairman of the board of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation.
A tireless and devoted historic preservationist, Margaret S. Haywood has spent more than three decades working to save Raleigh’s unique historical buildings and architecture. Born in Tulsa, Okla., Haywood grew up in Raleigh and, except for the 10 years she and her husband Marshall lived away, has stayed in Raleigh contributing her time and efforts to preserve the city’s historical heritage. As a member and chairperson of the city’s Historic Properties and Districts Commission in the ’70s and ’80s, Haywood worked with the City Council to secure historic landmark designations for structures throughout the city and fought to save others from demolition. She was involved with the Mordecai House renovations and worked with the National Society of Colonial Dames to move the remains of Raleigh founding father Joel Lane to the City Cemetery. She is perhaps best known for her 30-year tenure as the volunteer curator of Haywood Hall, circa 1799, the oldest house in Raleigh’s original city limits. She chaired Raleigh Bicentennial Education Committee in 1992. She also was a founding member of the Raleigh City Museum.
As Chairman of the City of Raleigh School Board in the mid 1970s, W. Casper Holroyd, Jr. was a beacon for change, leading the way in the face of strong public opposition to merge the Raleigh and Wake County school systems. Those efforts contributed not only to a nationally acclaimed Wake County School System, but a thriving community that consistently ranks as one of the best places in the country to live. Reared in South Carolina, Holroyd moved north to attend Duke University, where he was head manager of the football teams coached by the gridiron titans Eddie Cameron and Wallace Wade. Holroyd met his wife, Betty Ann Williams (now deceased) at Duke, and together they settled in Raleigh where he began a long, successful career in insurance. In 1965 he was elected to the Raleigh City School Board. Four years later, he began a nine-year term as board chair, during a period that proved to be one of the most challenging for the city’s schools as they worked through desegregation. Holroyd played a key role in the historic merger of the school system in 1976. Following his tenure on the school board, Holroyd served four terms in the N.C. House of Representatives. In 1981, Holroyd married Mary Mayeski.
For more than 30 years, residents of Raleigh have enjoyed a flourishing cultural landscape thanks to the leadership of Ann Hassinger Smith. From her early volunteer days as a PTA president at Aldert Root Elementary School to more recent efforts as honorary chair of the N.C. Museum of Art’s 20th anniversary, Smith has worked to promote the arts among children and adults throughout the state. She may be best known as the founder of First Night Raleigh. From the first festival held in 1991, the family-oriented New Year’s Eve celebration has grown into one of the largest and most successful events of its kind. In 1980, Smith planned a statewide education conference held in Raleigh known as Arts and the Child. The conference brought together artists, funding agencies, and elected officials to discuss the importance of arts education and instruction to the lives of North Carolina children. Smith brought world-wide attention to Wake County and the state when planned the successful Elizabethan Festival for America’s 400th Anniversary at Kitty Hawk and Manteo in 1984, which included special guest Princess Ann.
G. Wesley Williams, the former head of the Raleigh Merchants Association, started his community service at the ripe young age of 17, founding the Young Business Men’s Club. He has now spent 70 years working to support Raleigh businesses and local civic groups. Williams served as Executive Director of the Raleigh Merchants Association for 50 years until his retirement in 1990, producing the Raleigh Christmas Parade, and providing leadership in downtown revitalization. He organized the Downtown Raleigh Development Corporation (now known as the Downtown Raleigh Alliance) and was President of the group for four years. He contributed to such projects as the Raleigh Civic Center, Fayetteville Street Mall, Radisson Plaza Hotel, and Center Plaza buildings. During his more than 60 years as an active member of the Raleigh Civitan Club, Williams was instrumental in establishing the Raleigh Boys Club and served on the board of directors for 10 years. He also helped found Hilltop Home, a local residential center that serves children with severe developmental and medical disabilities. Williams was president of the Raleigh Civitan Club and served as vice president and district governor of Civitan International. He remains active in the Raleigh Civitan Club, the Raleigh Good Ole Boy’s Club, and other civic and business activities.
One of the first garden clubs founded in the nation, the Raleigh Garden Club has for more than 80 years used its collective green thumb to beautify the city through outreach programs and education. Organized in 1925, the club is one of the five founding groups of the Garden Club of North Carolina. It was established as a philanthropic and educational association for its members. Among its many noteworthy projects are the creation and maintenance of the Chapel Garden at Dorothea Dix Hospital, the Martha Franck Fragrance Garden at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, azaleas and an irrigation system at Fred Fletcher Park, cherry trees at Pullen Park and donating startup funds in 1968 for the Rose Garden at Raleigh Little Theater. The group has provided thousands of dollars to Raleigh Parks and Recreation to plant trees and shrubs in city parks. The club also provides scholarships and funds for work-study programs in horticulture.
